The Most Loved Book I Got For Christmas: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe – Graphic Novel Edition

My sister and I were always given one book apiece on Christmas Eve, ever since we were very small indeed.  After the midnight candle-lit carol service, before racing up to bed, we’d sit by the tree and open up our “first gifts of Christmas.”  I’ve received many a wonderful book in this manner, but the

Book Review: Nightbird by Alice Hoffman

Star Ratings: Characters: **** (4 stars) Character Development: **** (4 stars) Plot: **** (4 stars) Writing: ***** (5 stars) Overall: **** (4 stars) Age range recommendation: 8-14 I’m so excited that Alice Hoffman is putting out another novel for young people!  I loved her books when I was a teenager.  She captures moments of “everyday

Book Review: Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell

Star Ratings: Characters: **** (4 stars) Character Development: *** (3 stars) Plot: *** (3 stars) Writing: ***** (5 stars) Overall: **** (4 stars) Age range recommendation: 8-13 We have a stack of Rooftoppers on display at my bookshop right now, and I will admit that I was enamored with this new-to-America children’s book even before

Book Review: Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve

Star Ratings Characters: ***** (5 stars) Character Development: ***** (5 stars) Plot: **** (4 stars) Writing: **** (4 stars) Overall: ****1/2 (4 1/2 stars) Age recommendation: 10+ In all his years as an apprentice historian, Tom Natsworthy has never doubted the moral supremacy of Municipal Darwinism; that is, mobilized cities and towns hunting each other